Parti Québécois divided over made-in-Quebec long-gun registry

Parti Québécois MNAs are divided over the Liberal government's proposed long-gun registry, with some worrying about the "practical elements" of the bill and the negative portrayal of hunters.

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The divisions appeared on the second day of the PQ's caucus retreat in Saguenay.

After the Harper government scrapped the federal long-gun registry, all parties in the National Assembly agreed that that Quebec needed to create its own.

Gun-control advocates were overjoyed when the Couillard government tabled a bill to do just that in December.

Hunters are under the impression they're viewed as mean and violent people - and that's not true,- PQ MNA for Gaspé Gaétan Lelièvre

However, some Parti Québécois politicians, including Gaétan Lelièvre from Gaspe, say they're hearing from constituents worried about different aspects of the bill, such as the obligation for owners to affix their registration number to their guns.

"Some of these guns are rare and antiques – collectors' guns," said Lelièvre. "If we start engraving them, that affects their value." 

Lelièvre also said hunters in his constituency feel they are unfairly portrayed.

"Hunters are under the impression they're viewed as mean and violent people. And that's false," he said.

PQ House Leader Bernard Drainville admits there are differing opinions within his caucus. 

"You've got different sensibilities on the territory," Drainville said. "So we must take into account these different sensibilities and come to a consensus. And we're working hard on that."

The party's deputy house leader, Agnès Maltais, said despite the reticence of some MNAs, the official position of the PQ caucus hadn't changed.

"We support the registry," she said.

Some Liberal MNAs nervous, too

PQ MNAs are not the only ones nervous about the proposed gun registry.

A recent report in Le Devoir revealed some Liberal politicians are concerned by aspects of their own government's bill.

When legislative hearings into the bill begin, stakeholders will be able to present their perspectives to MNAs. Afterwards, all parties can propose amendments.

No date has yet been set for those legislative hearings.